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Kansas City, MOWeeklyThree Losses in Onehttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/losses
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/losses#commentsMon, 25 Nov 2013 17:26:51 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9614Yesterday the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the San Diego Chargers 41-38. This loss could prove costly in more ways than one as the Chiefs stud pass rushers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston both went down with injuries. Both will have MRI’s today to find out just how bad their injuries are. The Chiefs pass rush has been struggling of late and without those two it will be non-existent.
Philip Rivers played another great game as he continues to tear up every defense in his path. Rivers has thrown for more than 390 yards in four games this season! After Hali and Houston left Rivers saw his chance to rip the Chiefs defense apart. The lack of pass rush meant Rivers no longer had to rely on short crossing routes but could now throw the ball downfield. The Chiefs secondary looked terrible as time and time again the Chargers receivers were open.
The only good thing to come from this game was the emergence of an offense. The Chiefs offense has been terrible for the last few weeks but finally showed signs of life. Alex Smith finally took some chances down field and this opened up the running game for Jamaal Charles. Charles had his second 100 yard rushing game of the season and his first rushing touchdown since week 7. Dwayne Bowe also finally looked like the 56 million dollar receiver he is supposed to be with 51 yards receiving and a touchdown. If the Chiefs have any chance at winning this next week against the Denver Broncos the offense will need to put up another 30 to 40 points.
This next week’s game against the Denver Broncos will be decided later today. Yes, you read that correctly I believe the outcome of the game will be decided on a Monday. The only chance the Chiefs have is if Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are healthy and on the field. Without them the Broncos who will be angry and fresh off a terrible loss will be poised to put up 40+ points. I know Peyton Manning was not sacked or hit a single time the last time these two teams played but Hali and Houston’s presence was felt. Manning never held the ball for more than 3.2 seconds against the Chiefs last week. For comparison, Alex Smith averaged 3.3 seconds on pass plays. Manning knew the Chiefs pass rush was fast so the game plan was quick passes, quick passes, and more quick passes. In the end the Chiefs defense actually won, they held the Broncos to 27 points that game. That is their lowest scoring total this season and 8 points lower than their scoring average of 35.75 points a game. The problem last week was the Chiefs offense struggled. As I have said all season it will take at least 30 to beat the Broncos plus a strong defensive effort. With Hali, Houston, and the home crowd this is possible. If they are both truly healthy the Chiefs could win 31-24. If they aren’t? Then we are looking at a third straight loss and a final score around 41-27.
Till next time,
GO CHIEFS]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/losses/feed0The Good, the Bad, and the Uglyhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/good-bad-ugly
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/good-bad-ugly#commentsMon, 04 Nov 2013 18:48:17 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9604The Good
The Kansas City Chiefs won yesterday and improved to 9-0 by beating the Buffalo Bills 23-13! This ties the best start in franchise history with the 2003 Chiefs. The best defense in the league came through in the clutch again yesterday. The Chiefs forced three turnovers and returned two of those turnovers into touchdowns. The first was a 100 yard interception return for touchdown by Sean Smith. The second was an eleven yard fumble return for touchdown by Tamba Hali after rookie Marcus Cooper forced the fumble. The Chiefs defense scored the teams only two touchdowns on the day.
Week after week this defense pulls out all the stops and forces turnovers at the most opportune times. The Chiefs have yet to allow a team to score more than 17 points on them all year and easily stand-alone right now as the best defense in the league. The Chiefs are only giving up 12 points a game right now which leads the league.
The Bad
The Chiefs are showing bad signs of breaking down. Jamaal Charles was still solid as he ended with 90 yards rushing on 17 carries. The bills though had an interesting approach with Charles that put a major hamper on the passing game; they limited him greatly on his YAC (yards after catch). Charles had 6 receptions which is around his norm but he only managed 6 yards total on those catches. In the upcoming weeks the Chiefs are going to have to find a way to move the ball without Charles as teams like the Broncos, Chargers, and Colts will not allow him to beat them.
While the defense literally won the game for the Chiefs they did show some bad signs by giving up a number of big plays. Rookie Marquise Goodwin started the scoring with a 59 yard touchdown reception. CJ Spiller added a few big plays as well with a 61 yard rush and a 27 yard reception. Fred Jackson also added a big play with a 22 yard reception. The defense actually ended up giving up 470 yards of total offense while the Chiefs offense only managed 210 yards.
The Ugly
I have been writing about this trend for weeks now, Alex Smith cannot throw the ball downfield. The Chiefs passing game has been regressing for weeks now and as the Bills slowed down Charles it led to a whopping 124 passing yards on 19 completions. That is only 6.5 yards a completion. Just for comparison that is around half of Drew Brees’ average completion yesterday (12.7) against a top 5 defense in the New York Jets. And if you are wondering how he compared to the bad QB from yesterday’s Jets vs. New Orleans Saints game; Geno Smith averaged more than 14 yards a completion. If that comparison wasn’t bad enough how about this one; the Chiefs defense had 13 less yards than Alex Smith did passing. That’s right with 111 yards on their turnovers the defense had close to the same output as Alex Smith did passing.
Andy Reid is a GREAT play caller and a GREAT coach. For the Chiefs to win against good teams Reid is going to have to get very creative. The Broncos, Colts, and Chargers will all press cover the receivers, play with a safety in the box, and follow Jamaal Charles’ every move. Why shouldn’t they? It’s great that Alex Smith doesn’t turn the ball over but 9 points from the offense on three field goals against the Buffalo Bills will not get this team any farther than the first round of the playoffs.
The Chiefs have a bye week to prepare to play the Broncos at Denver. If the Chiefs offense that we saw against Buffalo shows up get ready to be embarrassed Chiefs fans. The final score will be somewhere around 38-13. The Chiefs defense is the best in the league but Peyton Manning may be the best in league history. If the offense can’t convert third downs and possess the ball for more than 35:00 minutes of the game the defense will get worn down and give up points. Let’s all hope Andy Reid has some tricks up his sleeve and Alex Smith figures out how to stretch the field.
Till next time,
GO CHIEFS]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/good-bad-ugly/feed0The Defense Strikes Againhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/defense-strikes-2
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/defense-strikes-2#commentsMon, 21 Oct 2013 16:20:39 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9595For the seventh week in a row the Kansas City Chiefs defense was absolutely dominant. The Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 17-16 in a nail biter of a game that moved the Chiefs to 7-0! With the Denver Broncos lost to the Indianapolis Colts last night, the Chiefs are now the lone undefeated team in the NFL.
Offensive Recap
While I want to stay positive there is a scary trend that has been developing for some time. The Chiefs offense cannot move the ball consistently. One drive Alex Smith looks good throwing the ball then the next he looks panicked and can’t throw the ball more than five yards down field.
If the Chiefs want to seriously contend with the Broncos look no further than last night. The Colts ran the ball decently enough to keep Manning off the field and got enough pressure to fluster him. This is a game plan the Chiefs can and have executed. The difference though is the Colts still scored 39 points. It is going to take at least 30 points to beat the Broncos. While I believe the Chiefs defense is better than the Colts and is right now the best in the NFL, you can only slow down Peyton Manning for so long. Manning struggled last night and still threw for 386 yards and 3 TD. The Chiefs highest output of points this year is 28 in week one against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Andy Reid and Alex Smith have to find a way to stretch the field and complete some deep passes. This week they made some interesting adjustments like putting Dwayne Bowe in the slot. They also tried stretching the defense with deep passes attempted to Jamaal Charles, Donnie Avery, and Bowe. Just the threat seemed to stretch the Houston defense enough to allow Charles some running room. The next step is to complete those types of passes. The quick screens to the outside also helped as Dexter McCluster had a big impact on keeping the defense honest.
Defensive Recap
The other end of this scary trend developing is that we always leave it up to the defense to make a play. So far the defense has delivered time and time again, but let’s not forget the NFL is an offensive league. Every game the Chiefs are one pass interference or roughing the passer penalty from losing. This defense is the best in the league but they need the offense to do a better job.
Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson were both again fantastic. Both were all over Case Keenum who was making his first career start. At times the Chiefs gave up a few big plays but that is expected when you are as aggressive as the Chiefs are. Let’s also give the Texans some credit as they did a good job spreading the Chiefs out with their big and fast receivers and helping Keenum by getting the ball out of his hands quickly. Late in the game when the Texans needed to throw the ball downfield Hali came up huge with pressure on what seemed like every play.
Game MVP
Tamba Hali is an easy choice for game MVP with 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Hali has been great so far this year. While Justin Houston was racking up the sacks early, part of that was because Hali was getting pressure and being double teamed. Now that Houston and Dontari Poe are getting major attention, Hali is getting blocked one on one and racking up the sack numbers.
Next Week
Next week the Chiefs finish up their three game home stand with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns looked to be on the rise until quarterback Brian Hoyer went down with a torn ACL. Brandon Weeden has been thrown back into the starting role and has struggled so far. This is a must win for the Chiefs as losing to the Browns at home would be catastrophic. The Browns have a very talented defense and could cause a lot of trouble for the Chiefs offense. Early and often the Chiefs need to go to Charles and throw the ball down field. If Smith can’t complete anything longer than 10 yards downfield again this could be another long day that comes down to defense making a play.
Till next time,
Go Chiefs!]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/defense-strikes-2/feed0Chiefs Win, 6-0! Fans the MVPhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-win-60-fans-mvp
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-win-60-fans-mvp#commentsMon, 14 Oct 2013 15:20:23 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9581Yesterday the Kansas City Chiefs ended a six game home losing streak to the Oakland Raiders by beating them 24-7. The last time the Chiefs beat the Raiders at home Trent Green was the leading passer and Herm Edwards was the Chiefs coach!
Offensive Recap
Yesterday’s game was another ugly one as far as the offense goes. Alex Smith continually checked down passes every chance he got as it seemed like he felt pressure even if it wasn’t there. This is a growing concern of mine that I hope the Chiefs get figured out soon. Even if it is an incompletion, the Chiefs need to take some shots down field at some point to stretch the defense. Jamaal Charles was again the saving grace for the offensive woes accounting for 128 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Charles led the Chiefs in both rushing and receiving yards.
Defensive Recap
The defense on the other hand proved yet again they are without a doubt the best defense in the league right now. Terrelle Pryor who looked like a future star last week against the San Diego Chargers was sacked 10 times and threw 3 interceptions including one that was returned for a touchdown by Husain Abdullah. Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson led the defense with two great performances. Hali had 3.5 sacks and Johnson had 9 tackles and 2 sacks of his own. This defense appears to be on a collision course with the Denver Broncos offense in a matchup that is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Game MVP
Finally, the real MVP of yesterday’s game was the fans! The Chiefs faithful set a new Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor sports stadium with 137.5 decibels. The Raiders struggled with the noise all game which included several penalties for delay of game and false starts because no one could hear quarterback Terrelle Pryor. On one possession in the 4th quarter it was so loud the Raiders had 2 delay of game penalties and 1 false start. Pair the loud noise with this dominant defense and the Arrowhead home field advantage becomes one of the best in the league. Good job Chiefs fans!
Next Week
Next week is a scary game for the Chiefs as they host a desperate Houston Texans team at home. The Texans have a lot of talent and are much better than their 2-4 record shows. They have a coach in Gary Kubiak and a quarterback in Matt Schuab that are both fighting for their jobs. The Chiefs have to pressure Schaub early and often. He has struggled with turnovers but has the ability to throw it all over the field. If he gets comfortable early in the game the Chiefs could be in trouble. Offensively the Chiefs have to find a way to block JJ Watt. The 2012 defensive player of the year is a beast and causes all sorts of issues for offensive lines. Alex Smith is struggling enough in the pocket right now and with a 6 foot 6 inch 300 pound Watt coming after him I’m worried Smith could be in for an even worse game. The best way to combat this? Get the ball to Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery in space and quickly. If the Chiefs can finally get the ball outside it will slow down the pass rush and give Jamaal Charles some room to run.
Till next time,
GO CHIEFS]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-win-60-fans-mvp/feed0Ugly Will Dohttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/ugly
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/ugly#commentsMon, 07 Oct 2013 15:40:59 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9573The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0! This is the first time the Chiefs have been 5-0 since 2003. The Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans 26-17. The Chiefs defense was dominant in the first half as the Titans went three and out on their first five series. The second half the Titans offense got going and at one point the Titans took a 17-13 lead. After that the Chiefs defense stepped back up forcing two fourth quarter interceptions. From there the Chiefs offense did enough to build a lead and win the game.
Jamaal Charles was again a work horse as he had 145 total yards on 27 touches and scored one touchdown. Andy Reid must see Brian Westbrook 2.0 in Charles as he is using him in a very similar way. Westbrook was a perennial star for the Philadelphia Eagles in both the running and passing game. Charles has more targets in the passing game than any other running back in the league and is on pace to match Brian Westbrook’s career high for Reid with 90 receptions from a running back.
While this game was ugly and hard to watch at times I look back and am actually very pleased with the win. I want to be negative since Alex Smith looked flustered and threw his first interception of the season, but to steal a line from the former terrible Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME”.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5-iJUuPWis) For years the great organizations like the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers continually won ugly games. Every Monday morning ESPN “experts” would then talk about how Tom Brady and the Patriots struggled and can’t possibly keep winning like this. But week in and week out these teams found a way. The Chiefs right now look like a winning team. A good playoff team should have won these first five games and that is what they have done. After a 2-14 season 5-0 should be seen as a miracle but it feels like this is what the Chiefs should be doing with this roster and coaching staff.
Next week will be a tougher test than most think as the Oakland Raiders come to Arrowhead in the Chiefs first divisional game. Terrell Pryor put on quite a show against the San Diego Chargers yesterday/this morning and will be a good test for the unbeaten Chiefs.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/ugly/feed0Monday Recap: Chiefs Win… AGAIN!http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-win
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-win#commentsMon, 16 Sep 2013 16:02:33 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9565The Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 for the first time since 2010 and have already matched their win total from all of last season. The Chiefs beat the Dallas Cowboys 17-16 in a hard fought physical game.
Last week I said I would hold off on judgment of the Chiefs because I though the Jacksonville Jaguars were the worst team in the league. As it turns out I am right on with that pick as the Jaguars looked terrible against the woeful Oakland Raiders. This week though the Chiefs had to take on the mighty Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are always both over and under valued each and every year. No matter how bad they are the Cowboys are picked to win the Super Bowl by a few “experts”, and no matter how talented they are they are picked to win 5 games by those same “experts”. I honestly think the Cowboys will win the NFC East and make the playoffs with at least 10 wins. Their offense is supremely talented at all skill positions and the offensive line has exceeded expectations and performed well through two weeks. The defense is fast and active and appears to be much improved from last year under Monte Kiffin.
The Cowboys are the type of team the Chiefs would have lost to by two touchdowns last year. The biggest difference is on defense and at the quarterback position. Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you Alex Smith had a great game. He looked flustered and he repeatedly rushed his reads. What he didn’t do though was make a mistake. Smith never turned the ball over and never put the Chiefs defense in a bad position. This is a far cry from what the Chiefs have experienced the last few years. Everyone who has played or watched a football game in their lives knows turnovers are bad and when you lose the turnover battle you will probably lose the game. Smith went 21-36 for 223 yards with 2 touchdown passes. He also led the Chiefs in rushing with 8 carries for 57 yards. The Cowboys strategy on defense was obvious from the start; don’t let Jamaal Charles beat us. The Cowboys forced the Chiefs to put the game in the quarterback’s hands and Smith came through. Smith was patient and made plays when they were there and never forced anything.
Now I can’t finish this article without mentioning the EPIC performance by the Chiefs defense. Dontari Poe is a beast who appears to be unblockable at times. Derrick Johnson was all over the field as usual and Eric Berry is a playmaker who was robbed of an interception after already forcing and recovering a fumble earlier in the game. I said last week the Chiefs defense looked like a top 10 defense. I’m sorry defense for underselling what you are, you guys are a top 3 defense in this league right now. Seahawks, 49ers, and then the Chiefs. That may be crazy but through two weeks it is true. The stats speak for themselves; 9 points a game, 4.5 sacks a game, 2 turnovers a game, and only 54 rushing yards a game.
This coming Thursday the Chiefs travel to Philadelphia to take on Chip Kelly and his innovative offense. The defense will get a real test to see how well they perform in space and how well they are conditioned.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-win/feed1Monday Recap: Chiefs Dominate Jaguarshttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-dominate-jaguars
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-dominate-jaguars#commentsMon, 09 Sep 2013 16:26:50 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9559The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 28-2 on Sunday and looked great. The last time the Kansas City Chiefs looked impressive in a season opener was 2010 on a Monday night against the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs went on to win the division and go to the playoffs that year. Skeptics have every right to not get overly excited by this Chief’s win. They did only beat the Jacksonville Jaguars who went 2-14 last year and will contend for the first pick in the 2014 NFL draft. I however am going to be very positive about the performance and especially positive about the defense. I am also going to be positive because last year we tied the Jaguars for the worst record in the league. It’s been years since the Chiefs have had a dominant performance so why shouldn’t we all be excited?
I was hoping for a 27-17 type win where the offense looked solid and the defense did enough to stop a terrible Jacksonville offense. What happened though was the defense was dominant by holding the Jaguars to 178 total yards, forcing 2 turnovers, and giving up ZERO points. The only points Jacksonville scored was on a safety caused by their punt block. The one strong point of the Jaguars offense is supposed to be the tackle position but that didn’t stop Justin Houston as he recorded 3 of the Chiefs 6 sacks. Dontari Poe looked like the top 10 pick star he is supposed to be and Captain Derrick Johnson is still the stud inside linebacker he has been the past few years. Overall this looked like a defense that could be top 10 in the league.
The offense was ok. Ironically, I think is a good thing. Maybe I’m just in a good mood but honestly I don’t want to see the Chief’s offense peak in week 1 at Jacksonville. Dwayne Bowe struggled to get open and Jamaal Charles didn’t exactly dominate and yet we still won by 26! The last two years if Charles doesn’t get 100 yards rushing and Bowe doesn’t get at least 80 receiving the Chiefs usually lose by a few scores. This team is different though. Alex Smith was solid, consistent, and mistake free. When it comes to turnovers, Alex Smith is essentially the anti Matt Cassel. Smith actually went through his progressions and made smart throws. Something we haven’t seen in Kansas City since Trent Green was here. Smith will improve as he continues to grow in Andy Reid’s offense and I like what I see so far.
Next week the Chiefs face the Dallas Cowboys and they will obviously have to perform better than they did against Jacksonville. This will be a great test to see where the Chiefs are at and I expect a tough physical game. The Cowboys are a legitimate NFC contender this year if healthy so we will find out if this dominant Chiefs performance was simply a mirage or the beginning of something special.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/monday-recap-chiefs-dominate-jaguars/feed0AFC West Predictionshttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/afc-west-predictions
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/afc-west-predictions#commentsWed, 14 Aug 2013 16:33:48 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9547AFC West
The AFC West was the worst division in football by far last year, with the Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs all finishing below .500. The only bright spot was the Denver Broncos who easily cruised to a division title and went 6-0 in the division. This year the division will be improved as I project two teams will finish above .500.
Denver Broncos 13-3
The Denver Broncos have had quite a roller coaster off season with the bright spot being the addition of Wes Welker from the New England Patriots. This addition will give the Broncos the best receiving core in football to go along with one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history in Peyton Manning. The dark spots were the executives who were arrested for DUI’s and star defender Von Miller being suspended for the first four games of the season. While Von Miller is a vital piece of this defense and the Broncos will need his pass rush if they want to contend for the super bowl, they will more than survive his absence as I have the Broncos going 3-1 without him. For the entire season I have the Broncos matching their record from last year and going 13-3 again and winning the AFC West for a second straight year. The offensive attack will be too much for other teams and the defense will make enough stops. I have the Broncos going 8-0 at home with their only losses being at the New York Giants, at the Indianapolis Colts, and at the Kansas City Chiefs. All in all I have the Broncos penciled in with home field advantage in the AFC title game and going on to play in Super Bowl 48.
Kansas City Chiefs 9-7
The Chiefs will have the biggest turnaround of any team in the NFL this year. That isn’t saying much though as they finished last season 2-14. I have the Chiefs finishing 9-7 battling for a wild card spot. The addition of Alex Smith cannot be understated. While I do not believe he is a top ten quarterback in the league I do have him somewhere in the mid-teens which would put him about twenty spots or so ahead of Matt Cassel. A drastic improvement at the most important position in sports should be enough but the Chiefs also made major upgrades all over the organization. It started with hiring John Dorsey away from the Green Bay Packers and then Dorsey hiring Andy Reid from the Philadelphia Eagles. All either of those two have done is be major parts of organizations that win and win a lot. The Chiefs also drafted Eric Fisher giving them one of the best tackle combos with Brandon Albert. Having two athletic tackles stretch blocking for a speedy Jamaal Charles will be a welcome site and will take a lot of pressure off of Alex Smith and Dwayne Bowe. All in all the Chiefs will have a chance to make the playoffs in week seventeen when they go to San Diego. I have the Chiefs losing but if they can pull off that win the Chiefs will go from worst in the league to the playoffs just like the Colts did last year.
San Diego Chargers 5-11
If Chargers fans though last year was rough then they will not like what they will see this year. Last year we saw Phillip Rivers continually hit the ground as the Chargers offensive line could not stop anyone. This led to frustration with Rivers and poor play. This year will be more of the same. The Chargers made some slight upgrades through the draft at the offensive line but the Chargers still lack the weapons to scare anyone from blitzing them. Malcom Floyd is a nice receiver but the Chargers are thin at that position. Antonio Gates is getting slower on a daily basis and Ryan Matthews struggles to hold onto the ball. I have the Chargers finishing 5-11. I had them finishing 4-12 initially but Rivers is just too good to lose that many games. If Rivers’ body doesn’t hold up through the season then the Chargers could be a last place team.
Oakland Raiders 3-13
It seems like a long time ago when Rich Gannon led the Raiders to super bowl 37. Since then the Raiders have been awful, and that trend will continue this year. The Raiders did well in the draft as I am a big fan of DJ Hayden from Houston but other than that the Raiders big addition is a solid backup quarterback in Matt Flynn. Matt Flynn is the second coming of Matt Cassel. He had a big game for the Packers two years ago and now many teams think he is ready to be an NFL starter. The problem is he doesn’t have a very strong arm and that is a problem since the Raiders have always wanted to run a vertical passing scheme. The only chance the Raider have at mediocrity is if Darren McFadden puts up career numbers and stays healthy enough to start all sixteen games. I don’t see that happening or Matt Flynn making a big difference so I have the Raiders finishing 3-13. Good news though Raiders fans, the Jaguars will still finish lower than you.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/afc-west-predictions/feed0Chiefs trade Javier Arenas to acquire FB Anthony Sherman from Arizona Cardinalshttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-trade-acquire-fb-anthony-sherman-arizona-cardinals
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-trade-acquire-fb-anthony-sherman-arizona-cardinals#commentsWed, 01 May 2013 16:47:51 +0000Travis Pflanzhttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9538According to Adam Caplan, of The Sideline View, reports via Twitter that the Kansas City Chiefs have traded to acquire Full Back Anthony Sherman from the Arizona Cardinals. Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, also confirmed the trade.
24 year-old Sherman was drafted in the 5th round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Cardinals and has played in 29 games in 2011 and 2012. Sherman is solely a blocking full back, with only one rushing attempt and thirteen receptions in two season.
Sherman played college football at Connecticut.
Reported by Ian Rapport of NFL.com, the Chiefs have given Javier Arenas in exchange for Sherman. According to Arenas's agent Hadley Engelhard: "This is a trade based on KC's acquisitions at CB, we were actively pursuing. We're happy it's to Cardinals."
Arenas was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Inthree seasons, Areans has played in 47 games with 4 sacks and 2 interceptions with no punt or kick return touchdowns.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-trade-acquire-fb-anthony-sherman-arizona-cardinals/feed0Chiefs 2013 Season Begins Today!http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-2013-season-begins-today
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-2013-season-begins-today#commentsTue, 12 Mar 2013 17:31:17 +0000Lukas Wigingtonhttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9522In a little over two hours, the 2013 NFL football season officially begins. Free agency frenzy will be in full effect. Many players will join new teams, and the Kansas City Chiefs have already started to build their new look. If you've been living under a rock for the last month and a half, I'll fill you in.
This offseason, Andy Reid was hired as the new head coach replace Romeo Crennel. Reid was fired by the Eagles and was the top coach available. Kansas City also brought in John Dorsey as the new General Manager. Dorsey was the Director of College Scouting for the Green Bay Packers from 2000-2010, and took over as the Director of Football Operations in 2011 and 2012. In his first big move as general manager, Dorsey lined up a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for Alex Smith. The Chiefs will trade away this year's 2nd round draft pick, and a conditional draft pick in 2014 based on Smith's performance. Kansas City also agreed to a five year contract with Dwayne Bowe, who will continue his career as the Chiefs' top receiver. Dorsey also placed the franchise tag on tackle Branden Albert, preventing him from hitting the free agent market while Albert and the organization try to work out a long-term contract. Dustin Colquitt also signed a five year contract worth $18.75 million, with $8.9 million guaranteed, making him the highest paind punter in the NFL. With as much work as Colquitt did last season, he deserves that contract. The Chiefs also worked with defensive end Tyson Jackson to restructure his contract and free up some much need salary cap room.
In free agency, the Chiefs have already made a couple of solid moves, agreeing to terms with former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson to assist in filling the void left by Brandon Carr that was never filled in 2012. The contract with Robinson was reported to be a three year deal worth around $15 million, with about $4 million guaranteed this year. The Chiefs have also signed some players to add some depth to the roster including safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Mardy Gilyard, defensive end Marcus Dixon, defensive tackle Daniel Muir, offensive lineman Ryan Durand, and tight end Kevin Brock. The Chiefs have also released right tackle Eric Winston, tight end Kevin Boss, and receiver Steve Breaston.
With free agency beginning today, our beloved Chiefs are in a position to make a few key moves to fill some holes before the NFL draft in April. With the quarterback position filled, key resignings in Bowe and Albert, and adding Robinson as depth in the secondary, the Chiefs focus may turn to the defensive line, secondary, and the offensive line. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chiefs also signed a free agent veteran wide receiver. If I had any say in the free agent signings, these are the players at those positions that I would sign:
Either - CB Sean Smith or Chris Houston (or splash move DeAngelo Hall)
DE Mike DeVito
OT Ryan Harris
Either - WR Greg Jennings or a combination of Brandon Gibson and Austin Collie
I'd like to see a mix, if not all, of these players in Chiefs' uniforms, but I'm not in charge. I'm sure any of the moves that Dorsey and Reid make will benefit the team in 2013.
]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-2013-season-begins-today/feed0Can it get any worse?http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/worse
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/worse#commentsTue, 13 Nov 2012 17:50:43 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9500
Last night the Kansas City Chiefs lost in overtime 16-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since the Chiefs did not lose by double digits and forced overtime with a superior team and organization, this should have been a positive story of sorts. But all anyone is talking about is how the Chief’s danced and celebrated better than they play. Whether it was Justin Houston and Tamba Hali playing footsy after getting a sack or Dwayne Bowe taunting a defender as he jogged into the endzone on a play that was actually called back, the Chiefs found a whole new way to embarrass the organization last night. The cherry on top was the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the defense got after scoring a touchdown that was also called back due to an overturned call. That penalty then extended the Steelers drive instead of it ending in a punt. It is painfully obvious this organization is a complete mess. It is sad how far it has fallen over recent years. While we all wanted Todd Haley gone for an underperforming team, his teams would not have repeatedly danced around like they were the team with the winning record and not the team about to go 1-8. The Chiefs are in a heated battle with the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record in the league. The sad part is that the Chiefs are 1-8 and playing in the worst division in football the AFC West. And since it is November and I am supposed to state what I am thankful for I decided to try and find something about the Chiefs I am thankful for. As I dug for something or anything, I finally found something in their schedule I am thankful for. I am thankful the Chiefs have no more primetime games the rest of the season so that way no one will see their embarrassing “performances”.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/worse/feed0The Future Starts Nowhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/future-starts
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/future-starts#commentsMon, 29 Oct 2012 21:35:17 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9490The Kansas City Chiefs are bad. Let’s get that out of the way first. This team has not had a lead in regulation once all season. The only lead the Chiefs had was when they kicked the field goal to beat the New Orleans Saints. Instead of dwelling on how terrible this team is, it is time to look to the future. With any future in the NFL that means what are we going to do at quarterback? Here we are going to outline the steps the Chiefs need to take to figure out the future of this franchise.
The first step in this process is to throw Ricky Stanzi to the wolves. It is obvious Matt Cassel is not the answer, and we already knew Brady Quinn wasn’t either. It already scares me that the coaches haven’t given him a shot. It also scares me that he lost the backup position in camp to Brady Quinn. Either way it is time to find out if he has a future or not.
Step two is figuring out if Scot Pioli and Romeo Crennel are going to be back next year. Pioli bet it all on Cassel and that was a terrible decision. After the strong finish last year Crennel looked like he could motivate this team and bring them back to their 2010 form. Turns out motivation does nothing when your quarterback turns the ball over fourteen times in five games.
Step three is to decide to draft one or sign one. The only decent quarterback who the Chiefs could possibly sign is Tony Romo. And before everyone hates on him too much let’s not forget he has been a pro bowl quarterback for years now with little to no support from his offensive line, running game, or defense. Now he gets the blame for the Cowboys, but truthfully, they are not as talented as people think. If the Chiefs look to draft a quarterback then I have bad news for you. This draft class is nothing compared to last years.
I wrote an article last year that the Chiefs should take Robert Griffin III late in the first round or in the second round if he came out after his Junior year. Turns out the rest of the country realized how good he was and the Redskins made him the second pick overall. I also thought Brandon Weeden would be a solid option in the later rounds but turns out the Browns thought he was first round worthy. This year’s crown jewel is Matt Barkley. Mel Kiper Jr. has now put Geno Smith ahead of him, but I think that is ridiculous. I have watched five of Geno Smith’s games this year and it seems that the Big 12 has already figured him out. Barkley on the other hand is in his fourth year as a starter and continues to put up big time numbers on a USC team that has little to no depth due to the NCAA sanctions on scholarships. Now that the Chiefs cannot even compete with the Raiders there is a good shot the Chiefs could have a top two pick in the draft. Let’s all start hoping that Matt Barkley is half as good as Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin. If he is then as early as next year the Chiefs could at least be back to respectable and watchable.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/future-starts/feed0Sickeninghttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/sickening
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/sickening#commentsMon, 08 Oct 2012 17:11:58 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9484
Classless, sickening, pathetic, and sad were supposed to be words I would use to describe the Chiefs play this week, but instead I have to turn those words in another direction. After another dismal performance by the Kansas City Chiefs offense I was prepared to do what seems like habit now and rip them apart. I was ready to point out with another four turnovers by Matt Cassel that the Chiefs are now -15 in turnover differential which is the worst in the league. I was even going to add that while the Chiefs failed to reach the endzone this week, that the Chicago Bears Defense has scored two touchdowns each of the last two weeks. That is what I should have written about today, but instead I have to apologize to Matt Cassel on behalf of all Kansas City Chiefs fans.
Yesterday the “greatest” fans in the NFL cheered as their starting quarterback was knocked out and suffered a head injury. That puts the Chiefs fans on par with the Philadelphia Eagles fans who cheered as Michael Irvin was carried off the field in a stretcher in a 1999 regular season game. Everywhere I look today I see the words classless, sickening, pathetic, and sad used to describe the Kansas City Chiefs fans. Sickening is the word Tackle Eric Winston properly used after the game as he rightfully defended his teammate. Pair this on the heels of the constant booing of Robinson Cano and his Dad at the Home Run Derby and what are outsiders supposed to think about Kansas City fans? I have bragged many times that the best part of the Kansas City Chiefs was Arrowhead Stadium and the fans. Nothing compares to the smell of barbeque and the hospitality of strangers offering food up to any fan passing by in the parking lot. Nothing compares to standing all game long and the constant cheering that gives the Chiefs a definite home field advantage. Now with the reach of social media and the new fear of head injuries, the Chiefs cheering Cassel’s injury will be making the rounds for a few days till just about everyone is sick of hearing the story over and over again.
We all know this Chiefs team is bad. It doesn’t matter if it is Cassel, Quinn, or anyone else. They are going to keep losing. The once hallowed grounds of Arrowhead are now tainted because of the fans. While he doesn’t deserve it for his play, Matt Cassel deserves a standing ovation whenever he is ready to come back because that is what Chiefs fans are SUPPOSED to do. It is the fans’ turn to step up and do the right thing. Matt Cassel we are sorry.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/sickening/feed2Thank God We’ve Got Jamaalhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/god-jamaal
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/god-jamaal#commentsMon, 24 Sep 2012 20:51:28 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9456Jamaal Charles had the game of his life as he carried the Chiefs to a come-from-behind win over the woeful New Orleans Saints. Charles had 33 carries for 233 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. He also added 6 catches for 55 yards. For any fantasy owner that stuck with him after his 22 total yard performance last week, which in most leagues equals 2.2 points, they were handsomely rewarded with 288 total yards and a touchdown. In most leagues that equals 34.8 points.
The Chiefs are now at 1-2 which puts them in a three way tie for second place in the dreadful AFC West. The San Diego Chargers faced their first good opponent of the year and lost to the Atlanta Falcons by 21 at home. Just as I said after week 1, the Atlanta Falcons’ loss was not a bad one. Next week the San Diego Chargers come to Arrowhead as the battle for mediocrity will continue. If the Chiefs win they will have a share of the AFC West lead. This is a must win for the Chiefs because the following week the Baltimore Ravens will be coming to Kansas City.
If Jamaal Charles is really back to his former 2010 self then expect most teams to load the box. This isn’t a bad thing though because it means fewer defenders in coverage for Matt Cassel to read. The Chargers were trounced last week on the ground and through the air so this is a good opportunity for the Chiefs. Because of the lack of competition in the AFC West, the Chiefs have to win these early season games against the Raiders and Chargers. The Broncos will improve on a weekly basis as the Broncos receivers become more comfortable with Peyton Manning. Any lead the Chiefs can build early in the season will help in the long run.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/god-jamaal/feed0“OH NO, WE SUCK AGAIN !!”http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/suck
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/suck#commentsMon, 17 Sep 2012 19:48:03 +0000Carlos Garatehttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9435
Well Chief fans, Here you have it, Last years chiefs have arrived, except this time ALL their players are healthy!
In week 1 you atleast had the excuse that Tamba hali was suspended and Brandon Flowers was not playing! Well whats the excuse this week? That Defense on the field on Sunday was SAD.
Chiefs Cant Run the ball. Matt Cassel Cant throw the ball, Jon Baldwin cant find the field, Romeo cant Coach and Coordinate at the same time, Pioli Cant Manage, Defense cant Tackle, Hunt cant spend!, Fans cant be Happy!
Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports said The Chiefs Are "An embarrassing Sucking train Wreck of a Football team!" The players need to play Like a MAN!! "PERFORM LIKE YOU CARE" , "ADMIT THAT YOU SUCK" and I couldnt agree anymore! you can listen to his rant on the chiefs here at this link http://www.61sports.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=6035695 The way Fescoe Feels is the Way EVERY CHIEF FAN SHOULD FEEL!!
Jamal Charles said "We just didnt come out and PLAY!" ... NO CRAP ?
I said it last week and I'll say it again ,, STAND up Chief fans, Let them know how you FEEL, Quit acting like its going to get better! Season tickets should be sold with a bottle of Vaseline! that way only your Feelings hurt on the weekends!
Let Me here it Chiefs fans. Whats your Excuse this weekend? and why will it get better next week?
]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/suck/feed5Déjà Vu All Over Againhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/dj-vu
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/dj-vu#commentsMon, 17 Sep 2012 19:39:41 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9437

Here we go again Chiefs fans. In two weeks the Chiefs have gone from promising to forgotten. Losing to a perennial playoff contender is one thing but being blown out by a perennial loser that lost by 20 the week before is a whole other monster. On the very small bright side, at least we didn’t lose by 34 like last year. I’m not sure if the Buffalo Bills have the Chiefs number or not but either way this was confirmation that this is another lost season. The Kansas City Chiefs are in a terrible position and I will give you two reasons why as well as the solution.

1. 2nd Worst division in the NFL (To the AFC South)

While this should seem like a strength, it is actually becoming a weakness. Because we are guaranteed four games a year against the likes of the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders there is still a chance we can contend for 2nd place in the division. If the Chiefs simply switched places with the Browns in the AFC North, then the Chiefs would win no more than 4 games and would be forced to rebuild. With the likelihood of winning 6 to 8 games then the Chiefs can keep reaching for the one more piece to put them over the edge.

2. General Manager Scott Pioli on the hot seat

When Scot Pioli was first hired after the 2008 season, he knew the team had to be built from scratch. The team was blown up and then built on the foundation that Matt Cassel was a future star quarterback. Obviously Cassel was not the answer. The issue now is that Pioli doesn’t have time to start over. The pressure is to win now. So Pioli will prolong his stay as long as he can by making minor improvements in any way he can. Pioli also knows that if he fails and is fired so is everyone he hired.

So what is the solution? The Hunts need to make a tough decision and make it soon. They either need to fire Pioli and then let everyone else go after the season, or extend Pioli. While I know the extend Pioli idea will not be a popular one, we cannot expect someone to succeed with this current team. We all know Cassel is not the answer so why are demanding that Pioli structure a winner with Cassel? Cassel must go so he can be a backup quarterback somewhere else and the Chiefs need to fall all the way down so they can get back up. No more of this just losing half the games. It is better to lose them all so that way one day hopefully soon we can win them all. I would rather see the Chiefs risk it all to win a Super Bowl instead of hang on to mediocrity.

]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/dj-vu/feed0“Helmet Man” in Custody in Connection with Kansas City Bomb Threathttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/helmet-man-custody-connection-kansas-city-bomb-threat
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/helmet-man-custody-connection-kansas-city-bomb-threat#commentsFri, 14 Sep 2012 08:47:28 +0000Travis Pflanzhttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9429Ex-Chiefs Superfan "Helmet Man" detained in connection with downtown Kansas City, MO bomb threat. "Helmet Man" is living in Kansas City and in witness protection in connection to the World Trade Center bombing in 1993.
Fox 4 News in Kansas City is reporting that a man walked into a building screaming something to the effect that he "is on the terrorist watch list." Officials tracked him back to a car owned by Wahed Moharam after dogs detected "explosive materials" in or on the car.
The Kansas City Chiefs revoked Helmet Man's season tickets prior to the 2002 season, stating "safety concerns" revolving around Helmet Man's attendance.
Follow up: 5pm
It is not clear if Wahed Moharam is the man in custody, only that he owned the car in question.
The car was cleared as "all clear" by bomb robots and the FBI.
Wahed Moharam is originally from Egypt and testified against multiple men convicted in both attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and in 2001.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/helmet-man-custody-connection-kansas-city-bomb-threat/feed0Speak Up Chiefs Fans!!! No means No!http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-coach
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-coach#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2012 18:33:27 +0000Carlos Garatehttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9399Well sorry Chiefs fans but, Looks like its going to be another one of those "wait till next year" seasons. After a nice home BUTT whooopin handed in Arrowhead, Reality sets in. What exactly have the Chiefs done to get better?
MATT CASSEL is Chiefs number one reason they will never be anything other than a "wait till next year" type of Team! Chiefs did nothing over the off season to improve that position.
Thinking that the Injury proned Charles was going to carry the Offense to the playoffs! Teamed up with Peyton hillis, Mr I had 1 good season then the worst season! Mr Hillis was showered changed and out of the parking Lot 6 minutes after the game! Too bad chiefs didnt play on a parking Lot!
Half of the chiefs Rushing Yards came from 2 plays!
Chiefs then Decide Not to PAy there #1 receiver and let him take the field HALF HEARTED, sits out the off season and thinks he can come in and be at the top of his game! And Baldwin was playing Hide and Seek form his Coaching staff!
What are the Chiefs saving their money for?
Chiefs FANS you can Blame yourselves for whats happening here, You guys need to step up and speak out! Broncos fans Had Billboards Telling The Coach and Owner what they wanted at QB, Speak up Chief Fans, Dont just Call in to Radio Shows or Cry on Twitter!! Just Say NO!!
NO Pioli- We are fed up with Cassel, Hes not the Answer
NO Pioli- We dont want the Cleveland Browns coaching staff
NO Mr. Hunt- I Dont understand why we are 20 some MILLION under the cap!
NO Chiefs- The excuse that we were missing 2 starters is not good enough!
NO Chiefs- We will not pay higher taxes to make Arrowhead a nicer looking Toilet Bowl so you can put the Same Ol SH*T in it!
Bring in the Old Cleveland Browns Coaching staff and couple Cleveland players and what your going to get Is play like the Cleveland Browns, and before you know it your going to be the Cleveland Browns!!
Well Chief Fans look at the Bright side you have the Buffalo Bills next week! that game should help get your False hopes up!!
]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-coach/feed17Welcome Back NFLhttp://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/nfl
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/nfl#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2012 16:51:36 +0000Bryce Mercklinghttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9387Welcome back NFL. It was a crazy week for football with many exciting games coming down to the wire. The Kansas City Chiefs on the other hand did not participate in one of those games. The Chiefs were over powered by the Atlanta Falcons 40-24. Before too much panic ensues I am here to let you know that not all the news is bad. First off, the Atlanta Falcons are a very good team. Matt Ryan is entering his 5th season and is a former number one overall pick. Through his first four years in the league he is 43-21! In a couple of weeks, many will be talking about the Falcons as a serious super bowl contender and that they are just as good as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
Now as I said above there is still some bad news. We just witnessed what a true Super Bowl contender looks like. In this day and age a high powered offense is needed to win. Defense does not win championships. Also, unfortunately for the Chiefs, running backs don’t carry an offense either. The Chiefs are a solid team that could definitely go 11-5 and win the division. The only problem is I won’t be shocked if we go 6-10. More than likely though, the Chiefs will float around the .500 mark and will miss the playoffs. As long as the Chiefs put their faith in Matt Cassel that is all we will ever accomplish. We can compete with the Raiders and Chargers and any other team that doesn’t have a great quarterback. But do we really think in a 4th quarter shoot out that Cassel will out duel Brady, Brees, Manning, Rodgers, or even Robert Griffin??? The answer is no. Mediocrity will be our curse. Sure we can look east and say at least we aren’t the Rams, but they are closer to a franchise saving quarterback than we are. If Bradford pans out then they already have one. If he doesn’t then they will have another top three pick to try and get one. Here’s to another decent, alright, not too bad, not too good, just ok, mediocre season.]]>http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/nfl/feed0The 10 Most Important Chiefs of 2012http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/10-important-chiefs-2012
http://chiefscommand.com/kansas-city-chiefs/10-important-chiefs-2012#commentsWed, 18 Jul 2012 13:50:03 +0000Joshua Simpsonhttp://chiefscommand.com/?p=9191This time of the year is difficult for football fans to bear. The season is close and training camp is ready to begin, yet we will know nothing until kickoff on September 9th against the Falcons. We are, In fact, ready for football now but we will have to wait.
I have come up with a way to get some buzz going about the Kansas City Chiefs. It is not overly optimistic or pessimistic - it’s not even my idea. I have Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel of 670 the Score in Chicago to thank. The idea is to pick the 10 most IMPORTANT Chiefs for 2012. Not the best 10, not the 10 highest paid players, not the 10 most highly-drafted players, not unshaven nutsack Haley's top 10 players, not the 10 most likely players to help the Chiefs go 9-7 but the most important Chiefs in the quest to win the Super Bowl.
If these guys aren’t good, there will be problems for the Chiefs. As fans of a team with a lot of injuries, it may not be difficult for you and I to make such a list. This list is a ranked list with #1 being the most important Chief. With no further delay, here are the 10 most important Chiefs (in my opinion):
10. Dontari Poe, NT: It may seem unfair to put him in the top 10 but he is touted as being a three-down nose tackle and the Chiefs must get some kind of pass rush from the defensive line. Even if he becomes a dominant rush-stopper, that will be an upgrade over the passable players that have been in the middle of the 3-4 defensive line the last three years.
9. Tony Moeaki, TE: For a guy who missed all of last season, he is rated rather high here but I don’t have to look much farther than teams like the Patriots and the 49ers. They have some great targets at the TE position and they were tough to beat when they were drawing the poor coverage. Kevin Boss is a good addition as the Chiefs needed to get more depth at the position whether Moeaki is healthy or not. The fact is that Moeaki can be an elite TE like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis. He makes Matt Cassel and the WR corps much better when he is running routes in the middle of the field.
8. Kendrick Lewis, FS: I do not worry about Kendrick Lewis but I do worry about who is behind him. He could be a little more physical this year but that is another story. The Chiefs have not built depth at the position other than young players like De’Quan Menzie and Jalil Brown (who may not be safeties) and veterans like Travis Daniels and Donald Washington (who really aren’t safeties). One of those guys could be alright if need be but one of the purposes of this exercise is to point out positions where, if an injury were to occur, there would be a drop in talent. At this point, I don’t trust the depth here but I hope we don’t have to find out how good the depth is here.
7. Dwayne Bowe, WR: The Chiefs have a good WR corps in Bowe (assuming he doesn’t hold out/go elsewhere this season), Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin. While the Chiefs could get by without Bowe, especially if the TE’s stay healthy and contribute, the fact is Bowe is a top 10 player at his position and it is crazy not to think that he doesn’t make a difference for this team this year. It remains to be seen whether or not the Chiefs will or should sign Bowe to a multi-year deal after this year but he matters to this year’s team for sure.
6. Justin Houston, OLB: While Tamba Hali has been the dominant pass rusher, the Chiefs’ pass-rush could improve and Houston should stand to benefit from any double-team that Hali could draw. The Chiefs could be a top-10 defense this year but they will not be unless Houston is raking in the sacks and or getting to the quarterback along with Hali.
5. Rodney Hudson, C: Hudson takes over the center position and, while he seems to have the chops to play the position, we have not seen him play the position consistently and, since he is expected to be the center of the future, he is an important player.
4. Jamaal Charles, RB: The Chiefs may have insulated themselves at RB by signing Peyton Hillis but, even for a position that means less than what it once did, Jamaal Charles is really good. The Chiefs missed him last year and they, me, you, everyone wants to see JC’s knee go right back to where it was before the injury.
3. Tamba Hali, OLB: As important as Justin Houston is to taking advantage of the opponent dedicating more resources to stop Hali, Hali still has to get to the quarterback to stop drives and force turnovers. There are a lot of facets in a defense but, if a team doesn’t get to the quarterback, the team will eventually get beat by one of these elite quarterbacks. Call me crazy but the Giants monster pass rush was the difference in the Super Bowl last year. Tamba needs help but he leads the way.
2. Eric Berry, SS: Yet another important player who was gone from the field early in the season. His importance is due to the fact that he has the same shallow depth behind him. It helps that the Chiefs did benefit from him playing every single snap in his rookie year and that he could get better. He is not an elite safety yet but he has the ability to be one this season. If he is, opposing offenses may not have a lot of options against the Chiefs. It’s time for Berry to return the favor to some of the players who play for teams on the Chiefs’ schedule this year.

1. Matt Cassel, QB: If the Chiefs are going anywhere in January, Matt Cassel will have to matter. The front office has given Cassel a lot of weapons along with what should be improved protection as well as an emerging powerhouse defense. The Chiefs are basically San Francisco 49ers-lite. The excuses have to go and Cassel must find some receivers this year. There still is no excuse for his and the rest of the team’s loss to Denver with that turdbasket at quarterback last year. This league is about the quarterback and he is it this year. This team was built with him in mind and I don’t want to hear that he doesn’t have this or that. The best quarterbacks find open wide receivers and find their way down the field. Once again, I am rooting for him but the benefit of the doubt is dwindling. It’s time for Cassel to produce.
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Who are your 10 most important Chiefs?
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